Sister Fisher on Temple Square!

Friday, February 08, 2013
Transfer 5: Week 5!!!
Aye Yih Yihhhh!!!!!!!
(as all the Latina sisters say)

Hello dearest family and friends!

Wow the transfer is almost over. It's terrifying. On Monday we'll find out what's happening for my 6th transfer--- the middle of my mission. EEEEEEEKKK!!! 

Also this week was a week of miracles.

Cool thing. Remember last week we met M? The guy from Texas?  Well we called him last weekend and we were going to talk about the Word of Wisdom and right as we talked about it and read the scriptures about not drinking or coffee or smoking etc.  He told us that he just felt like he should do that after the first time we met him.  AND HE QUIT SMOKING since his visit at Temple Square!!! Wow.  It's amazing when the spirit just works through people what they feel and the changes they automatically make.  He said he realized after he was at Temple Square that he wanted to smoke more than he wanted to read the scriptures and that that wasn't right. So he threw away his last box and hasn't smoked since. Wow.   Awesome miracle.

 I also met an amazing lady named L who read "The Mormon Way of Doing Business" and has began to change all of her life because the book impressed/inspired her so much. So cool. She now wants to go to church, already gave up alcohol, and scheduled the missionaries to come over tomorrow and we will call her then and share more about the Book of Mormon then. Wow. Such prepared people!!!

Other cool thing--- we had a zone activity at a Senior Couple's sister's cabin.  It was so beautiful and peaceful and was a nice retreat for a few hours.  As a zone, we ate waffles and watched Lion King.  There's a quote from Mufasa that is so inspiring and I wanted to include it here.  President Monson actually has used it a few times in some talks too!

Imagine it coming from your Heavenly Father. Referencing an exchange between Simba and his departed father, Mufasa, from Disney’s movie, “The Lion King,” President Monson said, “Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. Remember who you are.”

He continued by saying, “You are a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father. You came from His presence to live on this earth for a season, and to live in such a way that you are an example of the believers and a true light to the world.”

“Just think of how much good can come to the world through our collective lights and let the gospel radiate through us,” President Monson said.

And now I will include the rest of my 38 pieces missionary advice of what I've learned so far on my mission (continuation from last week’s email):

#21 The Holy Spirit doesn’t testify or confirm every truth every single time to us, every time we need a pat on the back reassurance, or just for ‘maintenance’.  The Spirit confirms things or testifies of truth when we need it to.  If we always have a confirmation, then it is not faith, or trusting in what we have felt before. (D&C 6:22-24)

#22 At some point, you will be backed up to the wall of faith and there must make a stand: because you will never have 100% surety or proof or “a perfect knowledge.” If there is no room for doubt, there is no room for faith.  Choose to believe anyway. (Alma 32:21,26)

#23 The sun will come up tomorrow.  Even the darkest nights or storms always end with sunlight. It may seem hopeless right now, but that is because the miracle is right around the corner.  (D&C 103:12, D&C 78:18, D&C 61:36-37, D&C 58:2-4)

#24 Your purpose is to invite others unto Christ, no matter where they are on the path. They could be in the middle and you just help them come to church, or at the very beginning and you help them feel God’s love for them, or they could be at the end of the path, prepared over time for you to lead them into the waters of baptism. All parts of the path of conversion are equally as important. You fulfill your purpose even when people decline or accept the gospel. Your purpose is to just help each child of God that He puts in your path get to where they need to be on the path to conversion, according to God’s plan for them.  (D&C 101:16, D&C 88:41, D&C 64:31-33)

#25 The Gospel is true and it truly works.  Every part and piece of it is true.  It is the solution to every problem of all races, genders, ages, cultures, family situations, addictions, orientations, questions, weaknesses, doubts, or limitations any child of God faces.  The restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the solution to all the problems the world faces.

#26  Your best is different every day and in every circumstance. Don’t expect to fly as high and fast in stormy weather as you did in the sunshine.

#27  “There’s no growth in your comfort zone, and no comfort in your growth zone.” Allow the Lord to burn that dross in you - that excess imperfections. Let Him refine you and burn out your impurities. How does He do this? Through the trial of our faith, the fiery furnace of affliction and trials and difficulties that stretch us. (D&C 122:7-9, 1 Peter 1:7, Isaiah 48:10, 3 Ne 24:2, Hymn #85 verse #5)

#28 It’s a lot easier to work hard when you see results in other’s actions or ‘evidence’ of your hard work.  It’s a lot harder to keep going when you don’t.  Try hard and work hard anyway. (D&C 121:7-10, D&C 103:12, D&C 98:2-3, D&C 64:31-33)

#29 Let the Spirit, your logic, wisdom, and perceptions, and your investigator’s reactions determine how long you keep working with them, so you can keep moving forward and find those that are prepared and ready to progress.

#30 Be the result of your decisions, not your conditions. (D&C 58:26-*28)

#31 When the Lord withholds answers or guidance, it is because He trusts that we will make a “just fine” decision on our own. Confirmations of our good choices come later, after we act.

#32 Service/Leadership positions in the mission aren’t a statement of “How good a missionary you are”, but are only the place Heavenly Father needs you at the time to accomplish His plan (which most often includes you, growing and developing).

#33 Even the most horrible problems can all be fixed or cured after a prayer, an oreo, an expression of love/gratitude to your companion, and a good night’s sleep. (Matthew 8:24)

#34 Coincidences are when Heavenly Father chooses to be anonymous. If you meet them twice, it is not chance.

#35 When you don’t want to, are too tired, depressed, angry, sad, mad, frustrated, sick or glad prayer is always the answer.

#36 Testimonies are found in the bearing of them. Testimonies come and are strengthened as we testify of those things we hope to be true that are then confirmed to us as we act on our faith and testify of them. (Jacob 4:6) the Spirit often waits until you are bearing testimony before it confirms.

#37 Because each child of God is different, Heavenly Father has a unique and different plan for each child that may include or exclude certain opportunities or experiences, but is perfect in the fact that it is formulated exactly for what that child needs to obtain exaltation. Don’t complain that your life is different or harder or whatever than “so-and-so’s”, and don’t ask “why me?”. Trust in the Lord.

#38  “The testing that a wise Heavenly Father determines is needed even when you are living a worthy, righteous life and are obedient to His commandments. Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain. When you face adversity, you can be led to ask many questions. Some serve a useful purpose; others do not. To ask, Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this, now? What have I done to cause this? will lead you into blind alleys. It really does no good to ask questions that reflect opposition to the will of God. Rather ask, What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help?”- Elder Richard G. Scott   https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/10/trust-in-the-lord?lang=eng

Love,

Sister Fisher